Arrestee sues Sheriff’s Office

Published: Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 10:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 10:38 p.m.

A mother and her mentally disabled son are suing the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office after officials questioned and arrested the son and later dropped a rape charge against him, court documents show.

They argue a deputy should have let the mother, Nancy Duplantis, accompany him while he questioned her son, Jesse Price, 20, in September 2011, according to the lawsuit she filed on behalf of Price.

Instead, Deputy Philip Crabtree, before admitting in his report that it was obvious Price was mentally disabled, refused Duplantis’ request and drove Price to the Sheriff’s Office alone, Duplantis’ suit says. While being questioned, Price confessed to sexual acts with a child.

“Due to the fact Price functioned at a fourth-grade level, he did not understand what was happening and did not have the capacity to be interrogated,” the suit says. “Unfortunately, he was horrified when he was incarcerated for two days and nights.”

The alleged victim, Price’s 5-year-old niece, told Crabtree that nothing happened, the suit says. A relative walked in on Price and said she believed he was touching the girl’s crotch, and the girl’s mother decided to call the police, the suit says.

Crabtree did not corroborate Price’s statement with his niece or either of his relatives involved, the suit alleges. Duplantis learned of her son’s arrest when she called the Sheriff’s Office because “Crabtree did not return Price, as promised.”

Two of Crabtree’s superiors then reviewed the case and decided to release Price from jail, the suit says. A detective later interviewed children and adults in the case, and no one corroborated the charges.

However, the day after Price was released, former Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois appeared on TV and said Price had been charged with improperly touching a minor, the suit says.

“The rights violated by Crabtree and the sheriff were well-known to them at the time of their violation,” Duplantis’ suit argues.

In October 2011, a grand jury indicted Price on the rape charges. However, prosecutors later received new evidence and brought the case two months later to a new grand jury. Those jurors then decided prosecutors could not try Price on the aggravated rape charge.

The suit, filed against Crabtree and Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, requests an unnamed amount of damages for medical expenses, defamation, invasion of privacy and wrongful imprisonment, among other reasons.

Since Larpenter is now sheriff, he is the proper defendant because the suit questions the policies and customs that Crabtree was trained under.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESPONDS

While the lawsuit, filed in September, is in its early stages, Sheriff’s Office attorney Bill Dodd said the office has denied its allegations through a court filing.

The key question is whether Price had the capacity to be interrogated, Dodd said.

“One of the doctors we’ve requested information from has indicated to us the young man is quite capable of making decisions,” Dodd said.

Other than that, Crabtree and the sheriff are protected for arresting Price, he said.

“I think the deputy had probable cause,” he said.

It’s not uncommon, while investigating cases, for police to arrest someone, then drop the charges, he said.

“That happens all the time, unfortunately,” Dodd said. “People make allegations, and claims are made and criminal charges are filed, and later on the (district attorney) decides that is not the case. Or even the Sheriff’s Office. ... But that does not mean, at the time under the law, there was not probable cause.”

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.

<p>A mother and her mentally disabled son are suing the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office after officials questioned and arrested the son and later dropped a rape charge against him, court documents show.</p><p>They argue a deputy should have let the mother, Nancy Duplantis, accompany him while he questioned her son, Jesse Price, 20, in September 2011, according to the lawsuit she filed on behalf of Price.</p><p>Instead, Deputy Philip Crabtree, before admitting in his report that it was obvious Price was mentally disabled, refused Duplantis' request and drove Price to the Sheriff's Office alone, Duplantis' suit says. While being questioned, Price confessed to sexual acts with a child.</p><p>“Due to the fact Price functioned at a fourth-grade level, he did not understand what was happening and did not have the capacity to be interrogated,” the suit says. “Unfortunately, he was horrified when he was incarcerated for two days and nights.”</p><p>The alleged victim, Price's 5-year-old niece, told Crabtree that nothing happened, the suit says. A relative walked in on Price and said she believed he was touching the girl's crotch, and the girl's mother decided to call the police, the suit says. </p><p>Crabtree did not corroborate Price's statement with his niece or either of his relatives involved, the suit alleges. Duplantis learned of her son's arrest when she called the Sheriff's Office because “Crabtree did not return Price, as promised.”</p><p>Two of Crabtree's superiors then reviewed the case and decided to release Price from jail, the suit says. A detective later interviewed children and adults in the case, and no one corroborated the charges.</p><p>However, the day after Price was released, former Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois appeared on TV and said Price had been charged with improperly touching a minor, the suit says.</p><p>“The rights violated by Crabtree and the sheriff were well-known to them at the time of their violation,” Duplantis' suit argues.</p><p>In October 2011, a grand jury indicted Price on the rape charges. However, prosecutors later received new evidence and brought the case two months later to a new grand jury. Those jurors then decided prosecutors could not try Price on the aggravated rape charge.</p><p>Until Price's arraignment in December 2011, neither Duplantis nor Price “left their residence unless absolutely necessary,” the suit says. “Due to fear of contact with angry citizens, (Duplantis) actually grocery shopped out of town.” </p><p>The suit, filed against Crabtree and Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, requests an unnamed amount of damages for medical expenses, defamation, invasion of privacy and wrongful imprisonment, among other reasons.</p><p>Since Larpenter is now sheriff, he is the proper defendant because the suit questions the policies and customs that Crabtree was trained under.</p><p>SHERIFF'S OFFICE RESPONDS</p><p>While the lawsuit, filed in September, is in its early stages, Sheriff's Office attorney Bill Dodd said the office has denied its allegations through a court filing.</p><p>The key question is whether Price had the capacity to be interrogated, Dodd said. </p><p>“One of the doctors we've requested information from has indicated to us the young man is quite capable of making decisions,” Dodd said.</p><p>Other than that, Crabtree and the sheriff are protected for arresting Price, he said.</p><p>“I think the deputy had probable cause,” he said. </p><p>It's not uncommon, while investigating cases, for police to arrest someone, then drop the charges, he said.</p><p>“That happens all the time, unfortunately,” Dodd said. “People make allegations, and claims are made and criminal charges are filed, and later on the (district attorney) decides that is not the case. Or even the Sheriff's Office. ... But that does not mean, at the time under the law, there was not probable cause.”</p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>